Inside Report (1)

July 11, 1980

One big-city mayor thinks the best way to squeeze soem cash out of the Carter White House is to oppose the President's re-election. That, at least, is the short-term strategy of Philadelphia Mayor william Green III.

Green is backing Kennedy because he doesn't think Carter has lived up to his promises to the nation's older, industrialized cities. So he will be leader of the Kennedy delegates at the Democratic convention. But he doesn't think his man has much of chance.

Green's strategy: make Carter come to him for election help after the convention. The President will desperately need support in Pennsylvania against Reagan this fall. To get Green's help may cost Carter special financial aid to Philadelphia.

This same tactic already worked in New York City. Mayor Edward I. Koch criticized Carter's handling of urban aid -- and this is believed to have prompted new federal aid for financially pressed city hospitals.m